Photographic camera.



Patented 1an. 2|, |902.

A. BnowNELL. PHOTUGRAPHIG 'cAMERA.

(Aldplicmon med Aug. 24, .1899.)

3 sheets-Sheet l.

fm.,fs9|,592.- Patented 1an. 2|, |902.

v F;- A. B'RowNELL.

PHDTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

. (Application medAug. 24, 1899.)

(No Model.) l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented 1an. 2|, |902'.

F. A.4 Buwneu.. PHOTOGRAPHIE CAMERA.

."(Applip'qzi'on mea Ang. 24, met.)

3 Sheetslesben 3.

vIO

' adapted to carry film-'cartridges composed of so as to employ aVrelatively long focus-lens;

2O ward the simplification and facility of conplate; Fig. 9, a sectionalview on the line no bodiespthe top and bottom boards or plates l v.Wood, at the ends of which are provided film To @ZZ 1071/0112/ it nza/yconcern:

ing drawings, forming a part of this specifica- -UNTTED y STATES PATENTOFFICE.

FRANK A. RRowNELL, OFr ROCHESTER, NEw YORK, AssieNoR'ro'TI-IE EAsrMANKODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEw YORK, A CORPO- RATION oF NEw YORK.

PH orofo RAPH IC CAMERA.

' SE'ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent-No. 691,592, datedJanuary 21, F902.

Application Afiled SAE gust 24, l 8 9 9 Beitknown that I, FRANK A. BROWNELL, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras;and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exactdescription of th'e same, reference being had to theaccom panytion, andto the reference-numerals marked thereon. y

vMy presentinvention relates to photographic cameras, particnlarlyot'that .type

flexible ylm wound with black paper upon spools, which cameras arecapable of bein-g folded for carrying in the pocket or extended,

and the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations ofpartslooking tostruction, all as will be hereinafter fully described,andthe novel features pointed out in the Claims at the end ofthisspecication.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a cameraconstructedin accordance with my invention, with the camera-front eX- tended foruse; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional View taken on the line no an of Fig.3; Fig. 3, a'vertical sectional view of the rear portion ofthe camera,showing the front in elevation; Fig. 4E, a Vertical sectional view takenon the line y y of Fig. 2, with the movable front or lens-carryingVframe-folded within the casing; Fig. 5, a detail perspective viewshowing one of the devices for holding and centering the film-spools inposition; Fig. G, a sectional view on the line .z 'z of Fig. 4; Fig.k7,a perspective View of the parts of the main casingseparated; Fig. 8, asimilar view of the rear coverof Fig. 10; Fig. I0, a vertical sectionalview showing the spool-winding key.

Similarreference-numeralsindicate similar parts.

The main frame or casing ofthe camera emand 2, preferably, though notnecessarily, of

or spool chambers com posedin` part of a sheetmetal plate 3, extendingbetween the boards Serial No. 728,275. (No model.)

land 2 and bent to form the inner side walls `of the .spool-chambers andext'endin'gtoward `the rearand having an exposing-aperture of the sizeof the picture to be taken, thefianges .55 or edges 4L around thisaperture serving for the attachment of the rear end of the bellows 5,which'is secured thereto by means of the frame or plate (i `and screws7, as shown particularly in Fig-2. Therear side ofthe main casing isformed by'a cover-plate 8, fitting closely against the back, theupperand lower edges fitting into recesses formed in vthe ends l and 2,and having its ends rounded and bent inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, tofit within recesses 9, formed by securing the small plates l0 to theedge of the casing-plate 3, this construction forming a light-tightjoint-and preventing the entrance of light to the film-cham-o bers or tothe passage between the same. The main casingand also the outer portionof the rear cover-plate 8 are covered with a suitable covering, such asleather, (indicated by 11,) e and at or near the Centex' of saidcover-plate is an aperture I2, provided with `a window 13 of red glassor Celluloid, which will permit the indications or marks on the back ofthe black paper covering the film to be observed without Opening thecamera and without fogging the lm. This cover-plate is secured inpo-Sosition by suitable spring-catches, composed in the present instance 'ofbent spring-plates I4, secured to the upper and lower portions of thecover-plate and having apertures adapted to engage with projections inthe form of y screw-heads I5, as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired toremove the cover-plate, it is only necessary for the operator to graspwith the thumb and finger the spring-catches, disengage them from theprojections 15, and 9o withdraw the cover, permitting access to both ofthe spool-chambers and the passage between them at the rear of thebellows. ""At\ the rear edges of the film-chambers are arrangedtilm-supports in the form of small rollers 16, (see Fig. 2,) over whichthe film extends and is drawn, serving to lessen the friction. The spoolcontained in one of the filmchamhers-say that at the right of Fig. 2 andindicated by 17-I term the supply-spool and containing unexposed film,and at opposite ends of said chamber are provided spoolcenteriugdevices, embodying in the present construction thimbles or sleeves 18,secured to the top and bottom boards 1 and 2 and having camslots' 19therein, with which cooperate pins 20, projecting laterally from arotatable and longitudinally-movable stud or projection 21, having thehead or member 22 at the outer end, so that when said studs are turnedby the head the cam-slot and pin will coperate and cause the inward andoutward movements of the studs, thereby properly' centering the spool,as will be understood. In order to retain the studs and prevent theiraccidental movement, I employ frictional holding devices and in thepresent instance head of the spool and offer slight resistance to itsrotation, just sufficient to keep the film reasonably taut. In order tolift l'the film-spools out of the spool-chambers when the cover-,plateis removed, I provide in each of them a flexible band or strip 24,connected to a pin 25 at f the rear of the chamber, the free end of saidband extending in position to be readily grasped by the operator whenthe coverr is removed to lift the spool after the studs 21 have beendisengaged therefrom.

At the lower end of the winding spool chamber, at the opposite side ofthe camera, I arrange a spool-centering device similar in all respectsto the ones in the supply-chamber; but at the upper orzopposite endofsaid chamber I provide a movable 'abutment or lhead carrying the windingdevice or key and .Capable of being detached from the spool SO i thecamera.

when it is desired to remove the same from In the present embodimentthis movable abutment is formed of a metal plate 26, extending downalongside the casing 3 and guided to move vertically thereon by means ofa headed pin or rivet 27, the shank of which passes through a slotformed in the lower end of the plate 26, this plate being normally moveddownward or toward the center of the chamber by means of a spring 28,secured to the under side of the plate or door 1, as shown particularlyin Fig. 4. The upper end of the plate 26 extends across the end of thewinding-spool chamber, and journaled in it is the centering stud orarbor 29, provided with an irregularly-shaped head 30, adapted to engagewith a correspondinglyshaped aperture, such as a cross-slot, formed inthe end of the spool. Secured to the stud V29 is a disk or wheel 31,with the periphery of being folded on its pivot down to the positionshown in Fig. 1, substantiallyflush with the upper face of thecamera-casing. The spring 2S normally presses the plate 26 toward thespool and holds the stud in engageu ment therewith, and to preventaccidental i removal from thes-pool when the camera is closed or loadedI provide upon the stud 29 a collar or plate 34, withthe outer side ot'which is adapted to engage a pivoted catch-arm 35,

(see Fig. 6,) which must be placed in engager ment with the plate beforethe outer coverplate (i can be closed and which cannot be unlocked untilsaid cover-plate is removed,

. this arrangement rendering it impossible for the operator toaccidentally withdraw the operating key or handle from engagement withthe spool. The space or chamber between the two spool-chambers is to' beoccupied by the bellows when the camera is folded, the forward end ofthe bellows being attached to a suitable plate 40, carrying a lens andshutter of the usual orany preferred construc-` close the space betweenthe film-chamber and render the exterior of the camera practicallysmooth. The door or cover is secured when IOO llO

closed by a suitable spring-catch 45, having an aperture to engage aprojection 46 on the door, said catch being capable of disconnection bymeans of a button 47 `projecting through the top of the casing andhaving its upper end normally concealed by the covering material 11thereon. the spring-cateh45 vand the spring 28.integral, as shownparticularly in Fig. 4. Inorder that the door may be thrown openslightly when the spring-catch is released, I provide at the top of the`casing a bow-spring 48,cop erating with the upper edge, which spring isnormally under compression when the lid is closed, but will tend tothrow itoutward when In practicel make the catch is disengaged. The lidis main- 41, carrying the lens, is moved within the casing and betweenthe film-chambers, it slides upon a way-plate 52, arranged at thebottom, which is in line with the way-plate 42, and

the flanges' or lugs 53 on said block or carriageengage with the loweredgesof this plate, as will be understood. I

` The camera is particularly adapted for use in connection with alenshaving alixed focus,

and thereforefwhen the lens-support is drawn outit is to be secured inbut one position, and to simplify and cheapen the construction of theparts I provide upon opposite sides of the block or support 41catch-plates 54, having the outwardly-extending operating ends 55' andthe inwardly-extendinglugs or catches 56 v at their inner ends adaptedto engage notches 57, formed in the way-plate 42. These plates 54areloosely mounted upon screws or studs 58, which latter holdthem inplace, but allow a vslight outward movement of their innerv ends, whichare drawn together into engagement with the notches 5 .7 in theway-plate bya single spring 50, connecting thetwo, as shown in Fig. 2,but permitting said endsto'bo separated when theouter ends are pressedtogether bythe thu mb'and foreiinger of the operator.

The particular construction and operation of the front adjusting andsecuring devices I do not claim herein nor illustrate in detail,

. as they form the subject-matter of Patent No.

and enveloping paper vmoved from one com-v partment to the other throughthe passage formed between the back of the bellows and the cover-plate,and the number of the exposure noted through the aperture 12 in the rearroove'r of 'thecasing When not in use, the

lens-board is folded'within the casing, the lid 43 is closed and engagedby the catch, and

'the camera may then be slipped into the pocket of the user and carriedwithout inconvenience. If desired, other notches could be made in theway-plate 41, as indicated in dotted lines, intermediate the ends, so asto enable the lens to be focused-at intermediate points, as will beunderstood.

In the bottom of the main frame or casing is provided ascrew-threadedthimble 60 for the application of theordinarysecuring-screw carried upon a tripod whenthe camera is to beused in connection with a tripod, as will be understood.

' I claim as my invention- 1. In a camera-,a casing composed of thetopand bottom plates, the integral metal plate bent to form thespool-chambers at the sides and extending toward the rear and having thecentral opening, the portion in front of the opening forming with thetop and bottom plates a central chamber for the bellows, a door hingedto the bottom plate and having a way thereon, and a removable Vbackplate forming a light-tight joint with the rear edges of the-,topandbottom and the bent metal plates to inelose the hlm-chambers and thefilm-passage between them, in combination with kthe bellows attached tothe edges of the central opening vin the metal plate, a lensboard andthe carriage on which it is mounted movable upon the ways on the doorinto and .out of the central chamber.

2. In a cameracasing,the combination with the top and bottom plates, thesingle metal plate bent -to form the film-chambers at the sidesextending toward the rear at the center and provided with the centralopening, the

sides of the {ihn-chambers and the top and bottom plates forming acentral-chamber for the bellows, of a bellows connected to the ledges ofthe central aperture in the met-al plate and adapted to fold into thecentral chamber, and a lens-support and lens at the forward end of thebellows.

3.' In a camera, the combination with the camera-casing embodying thetop and bottom plates having the grooves on their rear sides, the singlemetal plate having the central aperture near the rear of the casing andextending forward and then rearwardly to form the spool-chambers andhaving the recesses at the -rear edges, of the removable cover-plateprovided with the anges at the edges adapted to enter the 'recesses inthe top and bottom (plates, and in the ends of the-bent metal plates toform a light-tight joint, and

IOO

catches for securin g lsaid cover-plate in position.

4. vIn a camera, the combination with the casing having the nlm-chambersat the ends, and apassage between them, of the removable cover-plateadapted to @over the filmchambers and passage between them, having thespring-catches on opposite sides and arranged intermediate theilm-chambers engaging the casing and adapted to be grasped anddisengaged and the`plate removed by the thumb and inger of the operatorshand.

5.- In a film-holder, and asa means for holding and vcentering,hlm-spools, the combination with the sleeve having the cam-slot in itsside,

of the revoluble and longitudinally-movablev studfor engaging the spool,having the projectionengaging the cam-slot, and the head, of thefriction-spring engaging the stud-head and preventing its rotation todisengage the stud from the spool.

6. In a film-holder, and as a means for holding and centeringlm-spools,the combination with the sleeve having the cam-slot, of therotatable and longitudinally-movable stud having the pin engaging in thecam-slot, andthe head having the recess in its under side, thefriction-spring engaging the recess in the pinhead and preventingaccidental movement to disengage the stud from the spool.

7. In a nlm-holder, the combination with a IIO spool-chamber, andmovable spool-centering devices therein, of a flexible band connected tothe chamber at one end on one side of the spool and having a free end onthe other side of the spool adapted to be grasped to move the spoollaterally from the chamber, when disengaged from the centering devices.

S. In a film-holder, the combination with a film-spool chamber and acover or closure therefor, a spool centering and rotating stud movablelongitudinally into and out of engagernent with a spool in the chamber,of a catch located Within and inclosed by the casing for engaging andpreventing longitudinal movement of the studand capable of disengagementonly when the cover is removed.

9. The combination With the casing having a film-spool chamber, and acover therefor, of the longitudinally movable and rotatable stud 29having the operating-handle, and the collar 34, the movable catch 35cooperating with the collar and adapted to be covered by the cover, whenin place1 thereby preventing the disengagement of the stud and spool.

and the disk 31 thereon, of a plate 322 having the tapering slotstherein, the rollers in the slots, and the springs operating upon therollers for forcing them into the narrow portions of the slots, therebypreventing-backward ro-q tation of the winding-key.

Witnesses:

F. F. CHURCH, ELIZABETH B. ROBY.

FRANK A. BROWNELL. f i

